Congressmen A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Brad Schneider (IL-10) introduced the Produce All Relevant Information to Safeguard (P.A.R.I.S.) Climate Act at the same time the United Nations Climate Change annual conference takes place in Poland.

“Climate change poses an existential threat to the world as we know it, and preventing that change is one of the most pressing issues we face. Public health, environmental quality, and our economy are at risk if we do not act. Several international and domestic reports have confirmed the urgency of our situation, and this administration must use the facts we have to protect the American people and everyone with whom we share this one Earth,” said Congressman McEachin. “Three years after the signing of the Paris Agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference, Congressman Schneider and I introduced the P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act because we know the Paris Agreement was a crucial step toward ensuring our world is livable and healthy, and science shows our withdrawal endangers that precious goal.”

“The Trump Administration is stubbornly set on ignoring the science of climate change and slowing our transition to renewable sources of energy,” said Congressman Schneider. “The recently released National Climate Assessment illustrates that time is running out to curb emissions and address the climate threat to our economy, nation, and planet. Our legislation would require the Administration to answer for its wrong-headed decision to unilaterally withdraw from the international Paris Agreement. I will continue to work with Congressman McEachin and my colleagues to put the United States on a path to lower emissions and reengagement with the international community.”

The P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act would require the Secretary of State to regularly publish a public assessment that highlights the damaging consequences of the Trump Administration’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. This straightforward bill demands regular answers to the following questions:

How many parties have formally indicated an intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement?

Does the State Department have a reasonable expectation that any parties may pursue withdrawal in the next year? If so, which, and for what reasons?

The P.A.R.I.S. Climate Act will force the administration to acknowledge the dangers of withdrawal, again and again. Every other nation recognizes the threat posed by climate change; Reps. McEachin and Schneider believe that this administration should stop preventing the United States from doing as much as possible to mitigate the impact of climate change. Bill text of H.R. 7220 is available here.

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Augusta Free Press launched in 2002. The site serves as a portal into life in the Shenandoah Valley and Central Virginia – in a region encompassing Augusta County, Albemarle County and Nelson County and the cities of Charlottesville, Staunton and Waynesboro, at the entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park and the Appalachian Trail.